"It's almost time..." Shiki said. He was standing at the bridge, looking ahead a the void of darkness in front of them. Within that void was something slowly coming to view. A sphere in the distance, it's darkness radiating with a faint glow, even within the Obsidian Cosmos. "Is that the Black Moon?"
"Looks like it." Rebecca crossed her arms under her chest. They all spent the last two days preparing for their clash with the Galactic Fleet. With the help of the Goldstones, they had gotten noticeably stronger as well. "But are we going to make it in time...?"
"We should be alright." Athena remarked, leaning against the wall. "Alexei only has about a one or two hour head start over us. If we hustle, we should be able to at least catch up to him. But..."
"It's not going to be that easy, is it?" Sister lifted a brow. It was never easy.
"Not at all." Max shook his head. "Unfortunately we can't share much of what we know of their plans. Not because we don't know...but that information is more than likely useless by now."
"Useless?" Kleene looked towards the Goldstones.
"Hubert." Kamara replied, taking a seat while sharpening her sword. "He did not inform us much of any plans. And the ones he did...they don't matter anymore. We betrayed him, so he has likely shifted plans. We have no idea what he's planning now."
"So before we can even get close to the Black Moon, we have to deal with Hubert." Amira crossed one leg over the other.
"We've shared what we do know about the rest of the crew." Athena ran a hand through her hair. "Even if we can slip past Hubert, they intend to intercept you upon arrival. At that point, the training we've gone through is going to have to do a lot of work."
"You were surprisingly helpful." Jinn admitted. "I feel much stronger than when this incident began."
"That's what happens when you train with the strongest bounty hunters in the cosmos!" Max said pridefully.
"..." Geno didn't really want to respond to that. Hermit placed a hand on his shoulder, which did make him smile a bit.
"Thankfully we won't be working alone. Is everyone else ready?" Hermit turned on the communication channel to contact the OSI, Elsie's, and the Eclispe Ark.
"It's almost showtime." Blair said. She looked to Rebecca. "...You should save your power as much as possible. I almost said we only have one chance, but those chances ride on you. So be careful, Rebecca..."
Rebecca gave Blair a soft smile. Blair never openly displayed her concern like this before, so it was nice to see her softening and opening up to them. "Don't worry, I'll be careful. You should be too..." Vanessa was still after her, but Rebecca was determined to make sure that didn't happen.
"Everyone is operating at 100% efficiency." Pino reported.
"This is going to be one intense fight." Happy was a little nervous, but he was ready.
"I know we can pull this off!" Couchpo was there for encouragement.
"The final battle approaches..." Homura took a deep breath. "We will not be defeated."
.
.
"Haha, it looks like everyone's been working hard." Elsie chuckled. "You know, Shiki...he might be as strong as I am right now."
"Princess...that's quite a bit of praise to give out." Hyuga said, looking at Elsie with a surprised expression. Elsie did favor the Eden's Zero, but he had no idea she thought that highly of them.
"It's just the truth." Elsie had a fond smile on her face. "Shiki has grown very strong over these last two years. I knew sending the Goldstones to train them would be a good idea as well. They're exceptionally strong."
"Do you think he'll be able to defeat Alexei?" Gowen questioned. That was the one thing on everyone's mind...
"Not alone." Elsie admitted. Alexei was stronger than anyone could have imagined, and now he had the Black Moon Star at his disposal. "But that's why we're here. This isn't a fight any one crew can do by themselves. The strongest forces in the cosmos have to unite in order to defeat him. Shiki will be the key, however. I know that much. So it's our job to support him as much as possible."
"Understood." Gowen and Hyuga nodded in response to this.
.
.
"We've prepared as much as possible." G told Casey. The crew of the Eclipse Ark did their own training, and they refused to fall behind the Eden's Zero or anyone else. "But will it be enough..."
"It will be." Casey said with a firm nod. "I trust all of you. You worked hard these last two days."
"We have our plan set." Ano said while adjusting his glasses. "Working in tandem with this many forces...honestly, I prefer our solo operations, but I know that it can't be helped."
"Everyone has to do their part." Lowell said sitting on the ground, looking over his sword. "We're fighting forces at the top of the cosmos."
"I'll do my best." Percival said slowly. She did look serious, however. "Hey, Lluvi...isn't it strange fighting alongside the Government again?"
"...A little." Lluvi admitted. Although she wasn't really close to anyone fighting alongside them. She thought back to her time training with Jaguar himself. If he were still here, perhaps things would be a little different... "But I'm a loyal member of this crew, and that's not going to change."
"I think we're all ready." Casey said with a nod. It was then that multiple alarms started to blare within the ship. "Are we under attack?"
"No!" Ano quickly took his his seat at the bridge, eyes widening at what he was seeing. "There are a lot of enemy forces up ahead! We're drawing closer to the Black Moon and...and...!"
.
.
The Black Moon was in sight for everyone. It's size was comparable to that of Blue Garden, but it was a noticeably smaller as well. But that was hardly the takeaway. Once every force had gotten close enough to detect them, they could see it. The entirety of the Galactic Fleet's forces waiting for them. Each ship was in position, appearing like a great wall in front of the Black Moon. Positioned in front of these ships was a cyan Knight Gear with a sword and shield in its hold. It was easy to surmise who that belonged to. "I see everyone's here."
"That's Hubert..." Justice remarked.
"So, he was waiting for us." Cure said.
"I thought as much." Feather didn't seem so surprised. "My eye of Venus has a little difficulty operating in this darkness, but I could still make out a large number of forces in this location. They were not moving, so I correctly assumed they were taking a defensive formation. It appears he has no intentions of letting us pass."
"That's no good." Eraser rubbed the back of his neck. "Even with the Government here, I could see this would be quite a task..."
"Then it's a good thing we're all here, right?" Elsie replied with a grin. Justice was doing his best not to roll his eyes.
"At least try and take this seriously." Justice grumbled.
"Beyond me lies what you seek." Hubert held his arm out, gesturing to the Black Moon behind him. "However, as the tactician of this crew, it is my sworn duty to prevent you from interfering with Alexei. I will not allow you to pass."
"Looks like it's show time." Athena and Hermit looked at each other and nodded. Athena ran off into the ship, leaving the others confused.
'Uh, where is she going?" Cynthia pointed.
"Don't worry about that." Hermit replied. "Get to the Star Fighters! We have to get through Hubert! Sister, Geno, Omega, and I will aid the fight here. The rest of you have to get through, no matter what. We'll be fine!"
"Alright everyone! Prepare for battle!" Shiki told the crew. Everyone knew their roles and they were set.
"It's time! Let's throw the first stone, shall we?" Elsie grinned. On that cue, the Skull Fairy was the first one to fire a beam towards Hubert's Knight Gear. Hubert brought forth the shield to protect against the attack with minimal damage. "No damage?"
"The Empyrean will not fall so easily." Hubert stated with a grin, before lifting his sword up. The blade of the Empyrean shone brightly in blue ether, before he swung it forward. This prompted a crescent slash of ether to fly towards the Eden's Zero. Due to the ship's shields, it didn't strike directly, but the impact was still more than enough to rock the ship and nearly send everyone falling. He then flicked his wrist, sending a number of ships towards the GIU to ram them.
"He's attempting to ram us!?" Justice narrowed his eyes.
Feather was working over time with her Eye of Venus, but she could detect one thing that was very similar in all of the ships. "None of these ships are manned! He is controlling them with his Ether Gear."
"So he can keep us all busy with just a flick of his wrist. How clever." Holy admitted. It was her ship that shot down those attempting to ram her. There was no loss of human life, but Hubert was clearly throwing every available resource at them. "Eraser, when the time comes..."
"I know." Eraser nodded. "I'm only gonna have one real shot to punch a hole in these forces. Maybe two if I'm lucky, but I don't exactly feel like leaving things up to chance right now." His power was a great asset, but with the recharge time, he really needed to make his shot count as well.
Hubert then turned to the Eclipse Ark, his shoulders opening up to reveal a number of turrets. These turrets fired off missiles, however, before they could even reach the ship, a blue barrier appeared around it, shielding it from impact. "Ah, of course. The Barrier woman. No matter..." Hubert pointed at the Eclipse Ark, causing a few ships to turn and focus their fire on it. The Eclipse Ark was now under fire, and Lluvi was doing her best to keep it protected.
"Guh! Are you kidding me...!?" Lluvi could really feel the pressure here.
"Ano, what's he doing!?" Lowell asked.
"He's using his Ether Gear to control every ship! That Amira woman told us about this. He can control inanimate objects to a high degree, but I had no idea his power extended this far." Ano said with a sweat drop. Hubert was controlling a massive fleet and fighting at the same time! He was, quite literally, a one man army...
"Can you do something about it?" Casey asked. This was a very important question.
"Yeah. I have an idea. I just need a few minutes..." Ano knew that was a heavy ask with Lluvi being under fire. Luckily for them, the Skull Fairy took it upon themselves to fire at the ships targeting them, destroying them and taking some of the pressure off. At the same time, the Eden's Zero fired the Scorpion Missiles at Hubert, but he used his sword to slash through them.
This did create an explosion, but he did notice multiple star fighters leaving the Eden's Zero. "Ah, so that's your plan...you think you can slip past me? I don't think so." With a snap of his fingers, multiple Star Fighters from other ships poured out, beginning hound the Eden's Zero crew.
"Ack! There are so many!?" Cynthia whined.
"I guess it wasn't going to be that easy..." Weisz grunted, beginning on focusing his fire on the smaller ships targetting them.
"Is there truly no limit to what this man can control...!?" Homura was at a loss. She was sharing her Star Fighter with Amira, and it was a bit of a tight fit.
"I thought it was an exaggeration" Amira mumbled.
"We have to get through!" Rebecca said. Her Star Fighter had Happy and Pino in it.
"I have an idea!" Shiki made a sharp turn and focused his Ether Gear into his bullets. While there was no real target, this created a dense sphere of gravity that drew the smaller ships in, and destroyed them.
"Nice work, Shiki!" Kleene said. That didn't solve their problems at all, however, and they still needed to break through Hubert's defensive line.
Hubert was quickly scanning the area, but he saw his target: Rebecca. "There. If she goes down, they will squander their one and only chance for victory." With that in mind, Hubert pursued Rebecca's ship, lifting his sword up. "Your time has come!"
"Ah...!" Rebecca noticed Hubert's pursuit too late. He was going to cleave her ship in half...!? Before his sword could actually strike her, however, it was blocked. "Huh...?"
"What...?" Hubert narrowed his eyes.
"I don't think so, Hubie!" That was Athena, however...she was in a Knight Gear. One that belonged to the Eden's Zero: The Steel Sorceress 94. While the Warrior Maid 95 appeared right beside her, this one being manned by Kamara.
"You will do no such thing." Kamara said.
And there was Max, taking the helm of the Goldstones personal ship. "You're fighting all of us now!"
"Athena..." Rebecca was a bit surprised, but she shook it off. With this, she could leave and not have to worry about Hubert now.
"She saved us..." Happy was surprised.
"Rebecca?" Pino looked at Rebecca's serious expression.
"She didn't have to do that..." Rebecca shook her head. "But I have to repay her by making sure we win this fight!"
"So the traitors are finally here." Hubert let out an amused chuckle. "If not for your betrayal, I wouldn't have prepared to vigorously. I suppose I should thank you for that."
"Don't thank us just yet!" Athena said. "After all, we're your enemies right now. And..." Athena grinned before the Goldstones all moved to the side, and Eraser's personal ship was suddenly in front of Hubert.
"What...?" Hubert didn't see this one coming. "How did you...!?"
Eraser's Ether Gear was activated and he pointed his hand forward. "You may be a masterful tactician, but you're still only one person." Eraser fired a a white beam of his Ether Gear towards Hubert, aiming to erase his Knight Gear right off the bat. Hubert brought his shield forward, which did clash with the beam for a moment. Hubert, forced to preserve himself, deflected the beam off to the side. His shield was obliterated, and in the process, a number of ships were taken out as well. "He blocked it..."
"I was prepared for you, Eraser." Hubert said smugly. "Unfortunately for me, that shield was my only defense against you. However...I know it takes time for you to recharge after. Will you be so satisfied with taking out a few meager ships before you die?"
"Meager?" Eraser, while disappointed he couldn't get rid of Hubert then and there, held a lazy, exhausted grin. "Maybe...but this works out too...after all...that's a pretty huge hole in your formation."
A hole...wait. Hubert turned back, only to see the Eden's Zero crew taking advantage of this opening, slipping through the defensive line to break through to the Black Moon. "Tch...!" Hubert was going to pursue, but Athena, Kamara, and Max stood in his way.
"Nope! You're not going anywhere! Isn't it poor form for a general to abandon the battle?" Athena taunted.
Hubert sucked his teeth at first...but then took a breath and composed himself. "You're right. I'll simply have to lay waste to everyone here. I am not worried. Even though they've broken through, a true tactician accounts for failure. They can land on the Black Moon, but they will never reach Alexei."
"We've made it through." Laguna said with a sigh of relief. Things looked tense for a moment.
"Is everyone else going to be okay?" Happy asked.
"We have to trust in them." Shiki said, focusing on the sight before them. The Black Moon...they were finally approaching it. Their long battle was finally coming to an end. They were going to stop Alexei and save the cosmos from the whims of a man who lacked a heart. It was now or never. "Alright, everyone, get ready! It's time for Operation Black Moon to commence!"